John McNeil walked out of a Georgia jail Feb. 12, fulfilling the death-bed wish of his wife, Anita. Anita McNeil died 10 days earlier from breast cancer, after years of fighting for her husband’s release from a life sentence for the 2005 slaying of a White man who McNeil claimed had threatened his son and […]
Author Archives: Zenitha Prince
Special to the AFRO
Posted inAfro Briefs
Obama, Congress Applaud 102-Year-Old for Election Day Grit in Fla.
Desiline Victor, a Florida centenarian who persevered for hours in a voting line last November, was given a presidential shout-out and standing ovation during the State of the Union address on Feb. 12. “When Desiline arrived at her polling place, she was told the wait to vote might be six hours,” President Obama said. “And […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Anita McNeil, Wife of Wrongly Imprisoned Ga. Man, Dies at 47
For the past few years, Anita McNeil fought battles on two fronts: one to free her husband John McNeil from a Georgia prison, where she believes he is being unjustly incarcerated, and the other to defeat her cancer. “When this whole thing started, I said to her, ‘Life is a fight, and that’s what we’re […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Study: 22 Military Veterans Commit Suicide Each Day
Every 65 minutes, a military veteran commits suicide, according to a comprehensive report released by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Feb. 1. The most exhaustive investigation of its kind, which drew information from states’ mortality records, Suicide Behavior Reports, and Veterans Crisis Line—the new study revealed that every day during the years 1999 to […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Congressional Black Caucus Outlines Agenda for 113th Congress
The Congressional Black Caucus will continue its fight to reverse policies adversely impacting communities of color during the first session of the 113th Congress. The group’s legislative agenda for the next few months will include advocacy on issues regarding voting rights, economic empowerment and immigration reform, according to a list of priorities released in early […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Singer, Actor Belafonte to Receive NAACP 97th Spingarn Medal
World-renowned singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte has been chosen to be the recipient of the NAACP’s 97th Spingarn Medal, the organization announced at its Image Awards. Belafonte will be honored at the Spingarn Dinner during the NAACP Annual Board Meeting at the New York Marriot Marquis Hotel on Feb. 15. The Spingarn Medal is […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Rev. Vernon Dobson, Black Church Leader, Civil Rights Titan
Baltimore’s “prophetic voice” went silent this week. The Rev. Vernon Dobson, a tireless advocate for equality and justice and one of the city’s preeminent religious, community and civil rights leaders, died in the early hours of Jan. 26 from the complications of a stroke. He was 89. “For people who care about equality and fairness, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Hattie Harrison, House of Delegates Matriarch, Dies at 84
Hattie Harrison, matriarch of the Maryland House of Delegates, died Jan. 28. She was 84. Known as the “fairy godmother” of the legislative chamber, Harrison will be missed for her diplomacy, mentorship and dedication to service, colleagues said. “Delegate Harrison was a great influence on everyone she touched,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch in a […]
Posted inNational News
Report: Black High School Graduation Rates Lowest in Country
High school graduation rates in the United States are at their highest since 1974, according to a recent U.S. Department of Education report, but Black students graduated at a rate below other ethnic groups. Of the 4 million public school students who entered 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year, 78.2 percent, or 3.1 million, […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Steve Harvey to Host NAACP Image Awards Feb. 1
Steve Harvey, the well-known Black comedian, author, radio and television talk show host, will host the 44th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 1 at Los Angeles Shriner Auditorium, the organization announced. The Image Awards is one of the nation’s premier multicultural awards shows and recognizes the accomplishments of people of color in the areas of […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Django” Action Figures Discontinued Following Outcry
Just weeks ago, action figures from the popular Quentin Tarantino film “Django Unchained” were prominently displayed on the website of the toymaker National Entertainment Collectibles Association. Now, they’ve seemingly disappeared. That’s because the 10-doll set has been discontinued after complaints that the toys were offensive, according to the Associated Press. The 8-inch figurines representing the […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Tyler Perry Offering Reward for Tips on Missing Fla. Men
Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry is offering a $100,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of two missing men of color from Naples, Fla. Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos are considered “missing and endangered,” according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, after last being spotted with now-fired sheriff’s deputy Steve Calkins, almost a decade ago. […]
